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Hello Space Cadets, how are you doing today?I’m doing great, doing the punch list of my wife’s ‘Honey Do List,’ and working on Operation Breakout and various other things for boss man to help market The Legion Awakes and Fortress Beta City.I wanted to finish Operation Breakout by Christmas Eve, but it clearly didn’t happen.I’ve moved the deadline for myself to January 31, 2017 and hope that I won’t be cutting that one close. I’ve also fallen in love with next series, which I’ll tentatively call The Odera Chronicles. This series came out of the short story I wrote for the Roswell Anthology that I’ve talked about. It’s currently with my editor, who is doing a quick look-through for me. I know that prolific author Dean Wesley Smith teaches us that the world is waiting with baited breath for the release of the next big thing in military science fiction, the next big pulp author. I hope my novels will fill that niche!To tide you over, as a sort of appetizer to greatness, I wanted to tell you about an opportunity to help other science fiction authors.

One of the up and coming small publishing houses, Space Dock, is seeking dedicated ARC readers.An ARC is an advanced reader copy, and is given out by authors for reviews of their books.These reviews are crucial for visibility, and writers live and die by them.Good, bad or indifferent, just write the dang review!Since Space Dock is out of the UK, they’d likely be sending out eBook copies, but for most of us that isn’t an issue.If this sounds like something you’re interested in, click here.

Until next time, stay frosty and don’t forget to keep your powder dry!

JR

–> As usual, all images came from the Google’s “labeled for reuse” section or are personally owned by Space Dock Publications.

Hello Space Cadets!!In the coming weeks, I’ll be posting articles about the various parts of my writing process.I plan on covering alien creation, foreign languages and character creation.In addition, I’ll write about how I ‘invent’ new technologies and where I conduct my research.There will be posts about resources I use, and mentors I’ve been lucky enough to have.Now that my website is wrapping up, it is time to do all of the prep work for a smooth transition into my blog schedule. I look forward to bringing you with me on this journey, and can’t wait to read your comments in the forthcoming posts.

Now, as for a quick NaNoWriMo update!I’ve been sucking it recently, life has been crazy and I’m way behind.With two special needs kids, you just have to seize life by the… and carry on.I grab words where I can and attend my local Hampton Roads NaNo Group’s Friday write-ins to catch up.Yesterday I managed to crank out 900 words while I was there, not bad since I am working on a crappy laptop that isn’t comfortable for my sore hands.This has convinced me to double down on my goals of learning to better use my Dragon software and lighten the load on my hands.So, now that we’ve gotten here…. It is time for my word weigh-in and the judgement that will surely follow.It is Day 12 and I’m sitting at 13,052 words.I hope to finish the day at 17,000 words but that might just be a pipe dream.I still have to take my son out clothes shopping, he’s outgrown everything he owns.Ugh, not only is he EATING me out of house and home, now he’s growing like a weed.

Until next time, stay frosty and don’t forget to keep your powder dry!

JR

—> As usual, the image I used today can be found under Google’s “labeled for reuse” section.

Hello Space Cadets, how is everyone doing? I’m well, so is my grandmother! Thank you, truly, to everyone who sent their happy thoughts into the ethos for my Grandma Handley, it meant a lot. As a quick update, I should (fingers crossed) have the new look for my website up within the week. Once it is up, I will let everyone know what is going on with that. We should seamlessly merge it into this page, since I bought the domain and a premium account from WordPress. If it doesn’t work as planned, I will direct everyone where to go… but I hope it isn’t necessary.

Here is a quick look at where I want my blog to go. While I work on getting my professional looking blog and a few articles in every category cued up, I will continue on as I have been. I have to coordinating with the authors I hope to interview, prepare the questions I want to ask and generally be prepared so I don’t look like a boot recruit. If any of you have any general questions for the warrior authors or the family series, post them in the comments!

Marine Monday’s: A series of world building from the Human Legion Universe, to include my own Sleeping Legion.

World Building Wednesdays: A series of posts on my writing process, not necessarily the right or best way, just my way. Dang, now I want some Burger King!

Family Fridays Interview Series: A series of interviews with other writers, editors, agents and anyone else involved in the wild world of books. The focus will be on how we manage our passion for the written word and our duties to our kinfolk.

Warrior Writer Weekend Interview Series: A series of interviews with veterans who write, edit or have any other role within the wild world of books. I will try to publish these on Saturday, but the guarantee is that it will post on a weekend! I want to highlight their service, reflect upon how it has influenced or affected their works and get all fanboy over their stuff! There could be overlap, as many veterans who write also have families, but the focus here will be their service and writing.

Funny Fill Ins: Basically, I’ll keep the witty and humorous bent that I’ve had so far. If it doesn’t fit into another category I will post it on a Tuesday, Thursday or on an open weekend day. I will also post any reblogs on these days as well.

Until next time, stay frosty and don’t forget to keep your powder dry!

JR

–> As usual, all images are found under Google’s “labeled for reuse” section.

When Novellas grow up to become Novels

Hello my fellow Space Cadets! I thought I would write a quick post about my first novel, The Sleeping Legion: The Legion Awakes, and how I got here. I didn’t start out trying to write novels, in fact, my contract was specifically for novellas that hit the adventure quick, fast, and in a hurry.

However, as I wrote the ideas just sort of grew organically until my novella grew up into a novel. As I worked on the final scenes for part two I couldn’t help but hear the song “It is the book the never ends, it just goes on and on my friend… Some fool started writing it not know what it was, and he’ll continue writing it forever just because it was the book that never ends…” You’re sing along aren’t you?

Knowing I couldn’t put it off any longer, I went to my boss with my hat clutched in hand. I told Tim C. Taylor about my problem of not knowing what, and how, to cut things to the appropriate length. He read through my rough draft, likely expecting to talk a novice off the metaphorical edge, then sent me a short email that started with the sentence, “JR, we need to talk.”

For clarification, I’m a married man and those words often spell my doom. As you can imagine, I was justifiably nervous. I heard Tim, in his proper British accent, saying those five words like a judge condemning a man to his demise. We meshed schedules, synced up our time zone disparities, and planned our Skype session.

On the day of the Skype session, his face was serious as he looked at me through our shared monitor. After a moment, he said “JR, you aren’t writing the novellas we talked about in our contract–”

Tim didn’t get to finish as I verbally prostrated myself at his feet, telling him I could do better. I wasn’t sure if I was laying it on thick enough, I needed him to know I was sincere. I heaped on some more until I couldn’t be heard over the sound of his laughter. I took a breath and looked at the cruel man who was likely going to burn my dreams. I imagined him holding a match and burning the manuscript before my eyes.

Then, to my surprise, Tim said, “JR, these are novels. Keep writing, but we need a new contract.”

And there I was, suddenly a novelist. I guess in the end, it’s not the destination you chart but the adventures had along the way.

Until next time, stay frosty and remember to keep your powder dry.

JR

–> As usual, all images are found under Google’s “labeled for reuse” section.

First, I have to tell you I’ll likely go MIA for a week or two as I address some family issues. My grandmother, who inspired this pen name, isn’t doing well so I’m driving north like a good grandson should. Fret not, I will try to write some good posts… however, I’ll be less active on others blogs. I’ll miss the great posts, so don’t get abducted by aliens while I’m away. Coming back to your great posts will keep me motivated not to fall asleep while driving. And never fear, my house will be protected!

Secondly, Team Handley will be updating our site soon for a more polished look. We already own the domain name, so now it is all about figuring out the technical bits. Worst case scenario, we bring in ‘the professionals’ to get it right but we hope to do it ourselves.

Finally, the happy note that I led with. For those of you who’re friends with me on Facebook will know, my paperback proof of book one came in on Wednesday!! I’m super excited, and you should be too!!! Until next time, be safe out there and remember… if you can’t be good, be good at it.

Well, I’ve finally decided to give the NaNoWriMo a go. I’m hoping this will give me a boost in finishing the third book in the Sleeping Legion Series. It is tentatively titled Operation Breakout, but that is mostly a placeholder. I just created an account, under the name Porkchop NCR, and set up my account. If you plan on participating, feel free to add me as a writing buddy. I can also be found in the Hampton Roads Region of the wild world of Ye Olde Face Page! As for the name, Porkchop was my call sign in Iraq and NCR is the universe I want to write my own stories in some day. I think that the booze might have contributed, just a wee bit, to it becoming my official username but once you set it up you’re stuck with it. Otherwise, you close your account and start a new one and it didn’t seem worth it.

My Book Blurb: (Subject to change)

This is the third installment in the Sleeping Legion Series, written in Tim C. Taylor’s Human Legion Universe. The dust has settled and the main arm of the Human Legion have left the Tranquility System. Not all was as it seemed, however, as Marines were left abandoned, forgotten and alone. Then the Legion wakes up, secures a new home and now must engage in a desperate struggle to wrest control of the Tranquility System from the Hardit New Order. To make matters worse, they have enemies within the ranks and a hostile human force at their backs. Can Serendine be secured before they face a war on two fronts?

NaNoWriMo Prep:

1) Figure out your basic plot idea or question.

2) Think about where this question would end, where is the logical conclusion?

3) Outline the main points of the novel.

4) Bulk up the outline to include the minor plot arcs and sub plots

I found that adding character arcs to this helpful as well.

5) Give the outline time to percolate (i.e. don’t wait until the last minute).

6) Work on any world building that needs to be done, or would help you write more efficiently.

7) Talk to your family and friends, let them know you might become a hermit for 30 days or so! Hey, MAYBE you’ll come up for air on Turkey Day!! That’s Thanksgiving for you non-Muricans!

NaNoWriMo Personal Growth Goals:

1) Increase my daily word count.

2) Become more disciplined with my daily writing, separate from the other stuff we do as writers. (Blog, marketing, networking, etc.)

3) This should help me come out of my hermit cave and stick my toe into the ocean that is the writing community.

Overall Goals for Event:

1) Make a substantial dent into book three, and hopefully write all 90,000 words of it.

2) Have something I can send to my editor so I finish my third novel before 2016 ends.

3) Have fun writing and never lose sight of WHY I tell the stories.

4) Make a point to blend this intense writing excursion with daily exercise so I become a healthier me!

Want advice from others who’ve been there and done that? Look no further! I’ll link to only a few helpful vlogs because otherwise you’ll never stop watching…. and we’re here to write peeps!

So, that’s MY NaNoWriMo story…. What will yours be? Will you join me ? Friend me so we can bust each other’s balls when we slack off?

As I’ve mentioned, I am now purging my blog for anything which has the potential to violate someone else’s copyright. In that vein, under the advice of my outstanding editor, Tim C. Taylor, I will no longer be directly reblogging other content. What I will do, instead, is talk about their post and provide the links for you to get there too. This protects me and prevents me from hassling every blogger I love, asking for the proper documentation of their digital rights. Even if they have the rights to the art, it doesn’t transfer to me, so I can’t necessarily use it. As I wouldn’t want someone stealing stories I worked hard on, I wont knowingly steal the art someone else worked equally hard on.

Now on to the good bits!! A blogger whose posts I adore, Adoptabookaus, recently posted about some of her favorite Australian Young Adults (YA) authors and series. It looked so good I had to share. The blogger recommends several authors to check out! She loved Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman, whom she meet at the Nevernight launch. She found them to be down to earth and friendly. She also recommends Mark Zusak and John Marsden, more established authors. Some of her new favorites were Jacinta Maree and Lynette Noni, whom she highly recommends. There were even more amazing books and novelists listed so go now, check out the post about Ozy YA!!